Staff at Penryn-based donkey sanctuary, The Flicka Foundation, welcomed a new arrival over the weekend, when Lottie the rescued donkey delivered a healthy baby boy in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Flicka Foundation does have a non-breeding policy, for ethical and practical reasons. Their resident equines have all been rescued from conditions of abuse and neglect; some having being forced to have foals year on year, only to have them snatched away to be sold for profit by callous dealers. The charity also gets many requests to take more unwanted donkeys and horses, so need to invest much of their resources into rescuing animals in need and caring for their equine residents, who now total over 100 individuals.

Common methods of contraception are chosen to minimise health risks to the donkeys and to limit any social disruption. However, as was the case with Lottie, sometimes donkeys are already in foal when they arrive!

Experienced staff at Flicka had their suspicions that Lottie may be in foal several months ago. She arrived at the sanctuary last autumn, but donkeys can have a gestation period of up to 14 months, so staff say it can take some time before they show any signs of a pregnancy!

The charity reports that Lottie was in a very bad way when they took her in, having spent many miserable years as an unlicensed beach donkey, forced to give rides to holidaymakers. She was found to be in an emaciated condition, was very depressed and required emergency dental treatment to address the terrible condition of her teeth.

The little donkey had to be monitored very closely whilst she recovered and throughout her pregnancy, but happily she is now thriving at the sanctuary and has safely given birth.

Flicka Director Judy Giles was there to witness the birth: “Even though Lottie’s foal wasn’t planned, the miracle of witnessing a new life born is just an incredible privilege.” She went on to say: “Seeing Lottie so gentle and tender with her new foal was amazing, but a stark reminder of the cruelty that many of the rescued donkeys at our sanctuary have suffered; taken from their mothers far too young to be sold at live animal markets.”

The charity says it is likely that Lottie was previously used as a breeding animal, so will have had many babies taken from her over the years. This time will be different though – safe at the Flicka sanctuary, Mum and baby will be given all the specialised care and attention they need and will never face the trauma of being forcibly separated.

The charity has launched a competition to give the little boy foal a name. You can find out more and enter the competition by visiting the webpage: justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/flicka-foundation/namelottiesfoal

<ENDS>

Notes to Editors:

About The Flicka FoundationThe Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary (Charity reg. No. 1153858) was founded by Mary Berryman in 1995, following the rescue of an elderly pony named Mickey. Mary loved all animals with a passion and could not bear animal suffering. Now celebrating its 21st anniversary, the charity has rescued and rehabilitated well over 600 animals since its inception. Members of the public are welcome to visit the horses and donkeys all year round.